Murphy on Ted Thompson: "We had three internal candidates, and I think I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the role that Ted had played in mentoring all three. ... Also Ted and I sat down and talked. It gave me a good sense of how he evaluated the candidates." #Packers

Murphy: "I though the process was very, very helpful in terms of allowing me to have a good sense of what was going on with football. The last few years I've tried to be more involved in football. ... It really focused me on some of the issues I saw within football." #Packers

Murphy says there have been some breakdowns in communication on the football side of things over the last few years. Says the #Packers had to "knock down those silos" that kept people apart or isolated.

Murphy says he's tried to be more involved in football the last few years. Search for new GM gave him chance to evaluate some issues #Packers have had in football. "What this process showed me is within football, we've had shilohs. We've had some breakdowns in communication."

Murphy: "I thought it would be really helpful for Mike McCarthy to report to me. I think it's best for the organization." Says there will be regular meetings with McCarthy and Gutekunst moving forward. #Packers

Among list of people he thanks, Gutekunst says "really importantly" wants to thank Ted Thompson: "He's been a mentor and friend to me for a long time now. He has taught me so many things along the way, his discipline to the process and ability to stay steady through adversity."

Gutekunst says the draft, develop and retain philosophy will remain with the #Packers because it's worked. However, he says he plans to be more aggressive and wants to at least be involved on every possible acquisition that could improve the roster.

How is Brian Gutekunst different than Ted Thompson? He says #Packers will "be in" free-agent hunt, even if they don't sign everybody. "Probably a little bit more aggressive in certain areas. We're not going to leave any stone unturned in the area of player acquisition."

Murphy says Brian Gutekunst has full autonomy on #Packers roster, does not foresee scenario where he would give him a directive or veto his GM's football decisions: "I'm not going to make football decisions."

Gutekunst: "I was born into a football family. I've been around football all my life. ... I've had such a broad spectrum of football experience being a coach's kid, coaching for a while and then going to the Kansas City Chiefs with John Schneider." #Packers

If there is a dispute between Gutekunst, Ball and McCarthy, Murphy says he might have to make decision. But roster autonomy belongs to Gutekunst: "If it's something that involves the roster, ultimately Brian will have final say."

Gutekunst said he was on the path to get into coaching when he interned here in 1997. But from that point forward he fell in love with scouting, and that's when his focus shifted to the personnel side of things. #Packers

Brian Gutekunst, who started on a coaching track, says Scot McCloughan helped him fall in love with scouting during his first three years with #Packers : "He was the one we'd ask questions when we were too afraid to ask Ron."

Gutekunst's thoughts on #Packers current roster: "I think we have a lot of quality pieces on this team, but there's a lot of work to do as well." He stresses competition at every position, "so nobody feels safe."

That's it for the Murphy/Gutekunst news conference. Check back on JSOnline.com and Packersnews.com throughout the day and over the coming days and weeks as news develops on the changes ahead for the Green Bay Packers.